BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI
STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes on Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal’s visit to the US later this week. A summary of her column is as follows:
This will be a critical week for Turkish-US relations. Ankara is striving mightily to mend bilateral relations, which were strained in the wake of Turkey’s refusal of US troop deployments for the Iraq war. This week’s most important event will be Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal’s visit to Washington, where is expected to convey important messages. In particular, he is due to present a letter plus a report to US President George W. Bush. The letter was written by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and focuses on two important issues, namely, Turkey’s stances on the Iraq war and the Middle East peace process. ‘Our Parliament’s refusal of US troop deployments should be understood as a democratic act and reflection of the nation’s will,’ writes our prime minister. Erdogan also expresses Turkey’s support for the ‘road map’ promoted by the Bush administration to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ‘Turkey is ready to cooperate with the US in the Middle East,’ adds Erdogan. ‘The interests of both our countries lie in further cooperation. Let bygones be bygones, and let us focus on our common future.’
The letter also states that Turkey is ready to soften its ‘red lines’ policy in northern Iraq. Erdogan underscores that Turkey will take into consideration the new facts on the ground in the postwar period. Ziyal is to discuss the details of this issue in Washington, but just what are these ‘new facts’? They refer to the role to be played by Iraqi Kurdish groups. Ziyal is expected to underline Turkey’s ‘no-concession’ policy once again, making clear that the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in the region would be regarded as a ‘casus belli.’ However, he is also to tell US officials that Turkey would not oppose the establishment of ‘an autonomous Kurdish zone’ or ‘a Kurdish federation’ in the region, provided that no concessions are made from Iraq’s territorial integrity.
The second document in Ziyal’s briefcase is a report prepared by two Foreign Ministry officials on their recent visit to Iraq. The report stresses that the US has failed to establish a new system, and that in consequence the country is being wrecked by political and social chaos. It also underlines that the absence of a stable political system together with the US image as an ‘invader’ runs the risk of plunging the region into even deeper crises and problems. Ziyal is expected to suggest to Washington that it cooperate more closely with Ankara, owing to Turkey’s greater familiarity with Iraq’s social structure.
If Ziyal’s mission proves to be successful, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to follow in his footsteps. Ankara is now holding its breath and waiting for the results of this pivotal visit.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION